Next month, retired Newark Archbishop Peter L. Gerety turns 100 and a half. He is the oldest archbishop in the world and the fourth oldest bishop in the world.

He was 50 years old when the Second Vatican Council opened and he ranks perhaps as the most ardent promoter of its spirit in the U.S. hierarchy ever during his leadership of the archdiocese from 1974 to 1986. He promoted parish and finance councils in all parishes and instituted them on an archdiocesan level, as well.

He welcomed women into leadership and gave his imprimatur to RENEW, the parish-based Scripture program that has gone international. It is the most successful parish renewal program ever implemented since the Vatican Council.

But his greatest achievement was the spirit of collaboration that he fostered in the life of the local church. He recently moved from the priests’ retirement home in Rutherford to St. Joseph Home in Totowa run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. His health is generally good and I think he would love to hear from people in the archdiocese who are grateful for his august leadership.

Perhaps the main reason Pope Paul VI appointed Gerety to lead Newark, with its large minority population, was his track record in working with Black Catholics in Hartford, his home archdiocese. Our Lady of Sorrows in Jersey City is one of the vibrant Black parishes in the archdiocese today. And Elvie Williams, 23, is one of its many success stories.

His mother, Maria, came to choir practice when she was carrying him and it appears that he learned how to master church music in utero. Growing up, he sang in all the church choirs and graduated earlier this year from the prestigious Westminster Choir College in Princeton. He sings, plays the piano and organ and conducts.

He is now on scholarship studying for his master’s in vocal pedagogy at Belmont College in Nashville. He believes his musical talents are a gift from God and he wishes to give them back to the church some day in some way. And somehow I think it will be right at Sorrows where he was nurtured on sacred song. Small, intimate churches like Sorrows can bring out the best in its parishioners by its personal attention.

Tapestry Church is one of the new nondenominational Christian communities that are springing up throughout Hudson County. For almost a decade, Pastor Anthony Langston and his family have grown this church into a vibrant worshipping community without its own walls.

Each Sunday morning they set-up and break down at the Boys and Girls Club at the foot of Jersey Avenue in Jersey City. Their special mission is inner healing, said Langston. “You have to belong before you believe.”

So they provide all kinds of services and ministries that give people a sense of community. Since it is a church of attraction, they also give every member a mission to perform, which bonds the people together.

They do not fret about not owning a building since it frees them from caring for structures and they are able to devote more time, energy and resources to people. And their attendance, loyalty and retention prove that Tapestry makes it work.

Small group experiences are also the hallmark of Moishe House, a Jewish movement that is based in the home for young adults. Hoboken hosts the only one in New Jersey and it is thriving. Today, three young Jews live together in a condo on Grand Street where they host Shabbat dinners and all kinds of social events.

The longest resident is Joshua Einstein, 30, originally from Teaneck who is into Jewish movements in a non-traditional way. They enable other young Jews to keep in touch with their roots by giving them experiences of adhering to Jewish life and rituals without having to affiliate with a synagogue.

Moishe is an international movement with some 55 houses in 14 countries. They subsidize each house depending on the level of activities they provide. Hoboken’s is thriving and their motto is kind of, “if you hold it, they will come.”

This is the first time I recognize someone posthumously. Jesuit Father Vincent O’Keefe, the youngest of eight growing up in the Jersey City Heights, was the only American priest to rise to the top of the Society of Jesus, a nearly 500-year old, international, Catholic order.

The Jesuits are without a doubt the most powerful religious order in the history of the church because they run an international network of universities, schools and ministries. He was the second in command and a trusted collaborator with the late Fr. Pedro Arrupe, sometimes referred to as the second founder of the Jesuits because of his leadership after the Second Vatican Council. O’Keefe, who died at the age of 92 in July, also represents the thousands of Hudson County natives who have become bishops, priests and nuns, especially in the 20th century, and have enriched the church.

The Rev. Alexander Santora is the pastor of The Church of Our Lady of Grace & St. Joseph, 400 Willow Ave., Hoboken, 07030, (201) 659-0369, fax (201) 659-5833, e-mail: padrealex@yahoo.com